FMA and LIA purchase ALAW

May 15, 2006

The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA), Rockford, Ill., and the Laser Institute of America (LIA), Orlando, Fla., have announced that they have purchased the Automotive Laser Application Workshop (ALAW) from founder Frank DiPietro.

The joint acquisition of ALAW represents an opportunity to bring together the laser technology and safety standards expertise of LIA and the metal fabricating industry and educational strengths of FMA to produce an educational laser technology conference beneficial to both organizations' members and readers.

"This will empower the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association to provide greater access to cutting-edge laser technology to our 1,500 members and 160,000 subscribers," said FMA President and CEO Gerald Shankel.

"We at the Laser Institute of America look forward to working with FMA to continue to build on the strong tradition of ALAW. This will further emphasize our strength and presence in the laser end user community," said LIA Executive Director Peter Baker.

Laser industry icon Frank DiPietro will chair the 2007 conference and continue to provide inspiration and leadership for the conference as a consultant for five more years. "Life is a series of transitions," DiPietro said at the 2006 ALAW in Plymouth, Mich. "Such a transition is now appropriate."

ADVERTISEMENT

Plans for next year's ALAW include scheduling it again in Plymouth, Mich., in April 2007, event organizers said.

This year's conference included three days of presentations by industry leaders on fiber lasers, Nd:Yag laser welding, remote beam laser welding, combined laser cutting and welding, and laser surface technology in automotive applications.

The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is an international society for laser applications and safety. Its mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. Serving the industrial, medical, research, and government communities, LIA offers technical information and networking opportunities to laser users from around the globe. LIA publishes The Journal of Laser Applications®, which is the official journal of the LIA and serves as an international forum for exchanging ideas and information in disciplines that apply to laser technology.